Montezemolo held meeting to reassure Alonso

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo held a meeting with his driver Fernando Alonso ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix to discuss the team's struggles this season.

Like all teams on the grid, Ferrari has not been able to match the pace of Mercedes at the start of the season, but has also found itself struggling to come out on top in the midfield. Last year Ferrari made a spat between Montezemolo and Alonso public, but this season the Ferrari president and driver appear to be working together behind closed doors to resolve the team's issues.

"He came on Sunday morning and we worked together in my room for 10 minutes," Alonso said. "We tried to put together everything we found in the first two races and what will be the next steps coming from the performance side and the car, with maximum pushing and maximum dedication from everyone in the team.

"He just wanted to pass me this message that Ferrari is doing 100%, and on our side as well - the drivers, engineers, mechanics and everyone trackside - will work day and night because no-one is happy. We are very united in the team and the president can be 100% sure that we will do 24 hours starting from Tuesday and Wednesday when we do the test and I will drive both days. We won't rest until the situation changes."

Alonso has found himself struggling against all the Mercedes-powered teams this season and was beaten by both Force Indias and both Williams in Bahrain. He is hoping some of the upcoming circuits will play to the strengths of Ferrari, but admitted there is still a lot of work to do.

"It's no good obviously, we would like to have extra speed and be able to battle with everyone. At the moment we are missing that aspect but we have some strong points and some of the circuits will show those qualities. If at the next grand prix or two grand prix we are quicker than Hulkenberg and Williams etcetera, we can say to them that they are missing some of the speed that Ferrari has in the corners.

"It depends circuit to circuit, but we need to improve in all areas - on the chassis side, on aerodynamic efficiency, power - there are many things and we need to deliver some good results in the next grands prix."